San Miguel is converting its energy to renewable sources at its main operating unit in Tucumán as part of its long-term sustainability strategy.

Renewables now account for 40 per cent of the electricity consumption at the facility, which packs 2.5m cartons of fresh fruit and processes around 300,000 tonnes of lemons to make juice, pulp, oil, peel and other derivatives every year.

“This means the company has far exceeded the objectives set out by the government, which require all Argentine companies to source 20 per cent of their electricity from renewable energies by 2025,” said San Miguel’s global environment, safety and health manager Paula Marincioni.

The company has signed a ten-year contract with energy supplier Central Puerto (CP) group. The electricity will be supplied by a new wind farm, Los Olivos, which is being build in the department of Río Cuarto in the province of Córdoba. Once complete, the farm will have the capacity to generate 22.8MW of electricity.

“We are very proud to be part of this project that represents a new milestone in the transformation of our country's energy matrix,” said CP’s renewable energy manager Rubén Vázquez.

San Miguel said it is committed to reducing its carbon footprint and introducing a more sustainable business model while contributing to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.